Clean Up Underway After Deadly Wis. Storm

GRANTSBURG, Wis. (WCCO) — Clean up is underway after deadly storms moved through western Wisconsin, killing an 11-year-old girl died who died after a tree branch fell on her at a campground in Burnett County.

In Grantsburg, authorities closed access to the town after an uprooted tree damaged gas lines. Much of the damage was centered in Dansbury, Wis.

Fourth of July weekend and the water of Yellow Lake was unusually calm. All the action was on land

“They are gone, those were huge trees,” said Tom Plunkett, whose property was damaged by the storm.

Plunkett watched the clouds roll in from his lakeside home Friday night.

“I looked over the lake and thought, ‘Good storm, won’t have to water tomorrow,’ Plunkett said.

Plunkett, however, got more than a good soaking,

“There’s the pontoon. It’s still on the lift. This surprised me,” Plunkett said.

He’s now ready for days of storm clean up.

Just a few miles away, Lori Morgan was also sizing up the storm damage.

“We have a camper, boat, and truck — all demolished,” Morgan said.

Morgan’s vacation home took the brunt of the storm, but still kept her family safe as trees came down around them.

“Miracle. That’s the only word I have for it,” Morgan said.

Despite the damage, a new day can give anyone a new perspective, even when nature is at its worst.

“I’ve got water. The generator is running. Life is good,” Plunkett said.

Thousands, however, are still without power. The storm caused damage in five separate counties.

Rachel Slavik joined the WCCO team in October of 2010 and is thrilled to be back in her hometown. Rachel spent three years in the sweltering heat of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She anchored, produced, and reported at WVLA. During her time in the Deep...